October Letter

Fall is finally in the air and things sure have been busy at Durant Road Middle School! Congratulations to all our tracks on completing their first quarter.

Here are a few updates on PTA activities in support of our school and students.

Book Fair – we are almost done with our Fall Book Fair! Sales will continue until October 27 so there is still time to come by and shop if your student has not already done so. All money raised from the book fair goes directly back to our media center to purchase new books and other needed items, and Spirit Wear is also for sale to support the PTA. We are looking for volunteers to help with the book fair until it ends – please see the SignUp Genius http://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e0a44acad2f4-drms to see what shifts are available.

Spirit Nights –we have two great Spirit Nights in November to help raise money for our school:

Dinner & Dessert Spirit Night – Wednesday, Nov. 8: Subway and Bruster’s in Falls Village have teamed up for a Dinner & Dessert Spirit Night on Wednesday, Nov. 8. A portion of sales (dine-in and to go) will go toward our school so please come enjoy dinner and a sweet treat and – please remember to say you’re with Durant Road Middle School!

McTeacher Night is Back! Thursday, Nov. 30: McTeacher Night, one of DRMS’s most popular Spirit Nights, will be held from 4:30-7:30pm Thursday, Nov. 30. Participating teachers will work the registers and drive-thru window at McDonalds on the corner of Durant and Falls of Neuse. Hope to see you there at this fun event!

Box Tops–We have begun collecting Box Tops and our first contest is ending THIS FRIDAY 10/27. The homeroom that turns in the most Box Tops will win a breakfast party, so please send them in with your student to give to his/her homeroom teacher. Another contest will be close behind so keep your eyes out and collect those box tops! Don’t forget to ask friends and family and co-workers!

Volunteers – the PTA needs your help! We are in need of volunteers this year to help with activities in a number of ways – whether it’s sending in items for teacher luncheons, counting Box Tops from home, or helping at a school event. If you are interested in learning more about volunteer opportunities please let me know. We also post signup sheets on Facebook and send them via email.

The PTA began using a new communications tool this year called MemberHub. Unfortunately we’ve experienced a few glitches that have prevented parents from receiving MemberHub messages in a timely manner, but we are working to resolve those issues. To sign up for MemberHub, please go to https://drms.memberhub.com/join/uggtfy. Please also check your junk/spam folders for emails as we have heard a lot of emails from MemberHub have ended up there. We will also start sending more direct email messages and post more frequently to our PTA website https://www.wcpss.net/domain/3290. To get the latest news about PTA and school events, please “like” our Durant Road Middle School PTA Facebook page.

Teacher Luncheons/Teacher Appreciation – One of the special things that the PTA does for our teachers is provide lunch for them on most of the early release days when the students get to leave early and the teachers stay to work. We need all the help we can get with these afternoons including donating items, helping to cook food, set up and clean up! We will especially need some great cookie bakers ( or purchasers ) as well as we prepare cookie boxes December 1. Please be one the lookout for sign-ups as each early release approaches! If you are interested in becoming part of the Hospitality committee please contact me at durantroadmiddlepta@gmail.com

June Letter

Posted by Spencer Ziegler on 5/30/2017

DRMS Parents-

As the saying goes, time flies when you are having fun! And it has been a great three years for us at Durant Road Middle School! I, along with several other PTA Board Members and Committee Chairs, have kids who are going to High School this August, but there are fabulous Board members who will be staying on and new members who will bring new excitement and new ideas, too!

Here are your 2017-2018 PTA Executive Board Members:

President- Jennifer Oldson

Treasurer- Brian Kindl

VP Communications- Carla Turchetti

VP Mini-Grants- Stephanie DeVries

VP Fundraising- Amy Fulk

Secretary- Moira Mitchell

The final month of the school year is a busy one! Track 1 is about to track out, but before they do the 8th Grade Dance takes place this Friday, June 2nd from 6:00- 8:00 PM! For those of you parents who have 8th graders, this night is a great DRMS tradition and a very special evening for all who attend! If your 8th grade student has not turned in his/her permission form and $ for the end-of-the-year events, there is still time! Please make sure that they give this to their homeroom teacher ASAP!

Track 1’s 8th grade picnic is their last day of school, June 7th. Yearbooks will be given out before then, so please remind your student to bring his/hers as this is the day most of the kids get theirs signed by all their friends! (Tracks 2, 3 & 4 8th Graders will be having their picnic on their last day of school, June 30th.)

Tracks 2, 3 & 4 begin EOG testing on June 19th. (Track 1 will be finishing up their EOGs this week.) While no one (at least that I know) looks forward to taking tests, there are things that you can do to help your student be prepared. A good breakfast and a good night’s sleep are what experts tell us are two of the most important things! Click on this link below for other ideas to help your student relax and feel confident.

Another great tradition at DRMS is the End of the Year Awards ceremonies! Track 1’s is Tuesday, June 6th, Tracks 2 & 3 is June 28th, and Track 4’s is June 29th. Tickets are required. More information is available on the DRMS website.

On a personal note, it has been a true pleasure for me to be a part of DRMS in this role. I am proud of our school and the great relationship our families have with our Administration and Teachers. I encourage all parents to continue to support our school through the PTA, Sports Booster Club, Band Booster Club and other ways, too!

Finally, Here’s to your student’s continued love of learning and academic success! Our 8th graders are a diverse group! They are going to 23 different High Schools in Wake County, and as far away as Switzerland for High School. May the connections and friendships that they have made here, last them a lifetime! To all of our 8th graders, “Oh the places you’ll go, Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting….So… get on your way!” – Dr. Seuss.

April Letter

Spring is here in North Carolina and we are in the 4th and final quarter of the school year! Lots going on as your PTA works to finish out the school year, too!

First, our annual Teachers’ Appreciation week is coming up the week of May 8th – 12 for Tracks 1,2 & 4! (May 22nd -26th for Track 3) Your PTA has some nice things planned for our teachers and staff, and we hope your student will recognize their teachers, too! More details regarding what we will be doing will be on our Facebook page in the next few days!

We are in full swing with our Spring Sports season! There is still time to come out and cheer on your Softball, Boys’ Soccer and Track & Field athletes! The full spring Sports schedule is on the DRMS website under Athletics!

Do you have a student who likes to sing, dance, can tell a good joke or maybe even juggle? Then he or she may want to partake in our Student Showcase! This fun event in scheduled for May 16th! Students interested in auditioning for this event should see our Chorus teacher Ms. Micks for more details and a permission slip.

We are gearing up for the end-of-the-year 8th grade dance and picnics! These are BIG events for our 8th graders as they are about to finish their time at DRMS and move on to High School. Students from DRMS head in many different directions and these events are wonderful traditions at our school! We need parent volunteers to help with both the dance and the picnics. Please see our Chair Nicole Luna to get involved! Nicoleluna651@msn.com . We particularly need parents of 6th and 7th graders to help out with these events!

Last, we are in the process of getting a new PTA Executive Board set up for the 2017-2018 school year. Whether you can volunteer often or infrequently, there is a role for you! Many of our PTA Board members are leaving DRMS this year, and we want to ensure we leave our wonderful school in great shape with parent support! Email me if you want more information! Lcrute@aol.com

February Letter

Posted by Spencer Ziegler on 2/13/2017

DRMS Families:

Spring is around the corner and it is a busy time at Durant Road Middle School! Your PTA continues to work to help support our students, teachers and staff. At this point in the year, our focus shifts towards planning our end-of-the-year activities. We have been selling Krispy Kreme donuts once a month the past few months. All the proceeds from those sales go to the 8th grade end-of-the-year events. If you are interested in helping with the end-of-the-year picnics or 8th grade dance, please email our Chair Nicole Luna at nicoleluna651@msn.com.

The final weeks at DRMS are a busy time, especially for our 8th graders who will soon be leaving DRMS for High School. Look for lots of information coming your way from our Guidance Counselors regarding selection of classes for their freshman year. This all takes place before the end of this school year.

Spring Sports Try Outs begin this week for Boys’ Soccer, Girls’ Softball and Track. If you have an athlete you can still buy a season pass for all spring sports from our sister parent group, the Sports Booster Club! This saves you $ as all home events cost $5 at the gate. Go to the DRMS Athletics’ page and download the form if you would like to buy a season pass. Turn it in to the front office with your cash/check! Also, the Sports Booster Club and all DRMS spring Athletes will continue to sell raffle tickets for our BIG 50/50 raffle! The pot is over $2,000 so the minimum you can win is $1,000! The winning raffle ticket will be drawn on May 4th! Please consider supporting our athletes! Raffle tickets are $5 a piece and you can buy more at a discounted price.

Our Music programs are gearing up for the spring, as well! The Spring Band concert is Thursday, May 18th. This free concert is something that our fantastic band students look forward to where they can showcase their musical talent. Speaking of “showcasing,” DRMS will be presenting a great afternoon of talent with our Student Showcase in May! Is your student someone who has a talent he or she would like to share? Then this may be their chance! More details on this fun and fabulous event will be coming out soon!

Your PTA is working to help make the transition for the 2017-2018 Executive Board Members a smooth one. There are still several important roles that need to be filled. If you are interested in being a part of the PTA Board, please email me and I will get you connected!

Coffee with Liz Crute

Posted by Spencer Ziegler on 1/5/2017

DRMS Parents-

Are you potentially interested in stepping up and taking on a bigger role with our DRMS PTA? If so, please come out and learn more on Friday, January 27th from 8:00 am - 9:00 am in the DRMS conference room. Liz Crute, the current PTA President, will share with you different roles and opportunities that may be perfect for you! Coffee will be served! :-)

Our PTA has been a positive part of DRMS for decades, and our goal is to continue that wonderful tradition! But we need parents to do this! Please sign up here. This will be informational and fun. No pressure! Email Liz Crute at Lcrute@aol.com or call her at 919-605-5262 if you have questions!

December Letter

Posted by Spencer Ziegler on 12/8/2016

DRMS Families~

The Holidays are upon us! Our Track 1 families have already begun their long break, and I am sure our Track 2, 3 & 4 kids are looking forward to their Winter Break, too! We are almost half way through the 2016-2017 school year! Whew!

Your PTA continues to support our school through our events and activities! We have begun the once-a-month donut sales that help us raise money for all of the of the end-of-the-year activities for our 8th graders! We do this fundraiser in all "cold" weather months! It's a great way for our kid to have a treat, and an easy way for us to raise money to offset the cost our our picnics and 8th grade dance!

Thank you to all who came out to our McTeacher's Night at McDonald's! It was a great evening and a lot of fun for our teachers and kids!

Winter sports have begun, and that means Basketball at DRMS! Congratulations to all of our basketball players who are gearing up for their first basketball game of the season this week! Be sure to come out and cheer on our teams! Girls Basketball games start at 4:00 PM and the Boys play after the Girls' game ends (about 5:30 PM.)

In the past two weeks the Band and Chorus put on their fall concerts! Both were spectacular! What talented kids we have, and what great teachers we have in Mr. Kuni and Mr. Pickens!

As we plan for the new year, we are working to have some parents come forward to consider being a PTA Board member next school year. With four of our six Board members' kids going to High School, it is important that we get new people to come forward to take on these roles! I will be holding a morning coffee for anyone interested in the possibility of being a Board member in late January! In the mean time, please consider if this might be something you are interested in doing. It is NOT a lot of work. You CAN do this volunteering even if you work outside of the home. 50% of our current Board members have either a full-time or part-time job. It IS a great way to support your child's school and meet some great people, too! Email me if you'd like to be invited to this morning coffee at Lcrute@aol.com.

PTA Letter: 9/16

Posted by Spencer Ziegler on 9/17/2016

DRMS Families:

Fall is just around the corner, and that means we are busy at Durant Road Middle School! The first quarter is already over for Track 1, and our other Tracks are not far behind in completing their first quarters.

It’s a great time to share with all of you what we have been doing in the PTA to help support our school and your students!

First, we are finishing up our biggest fundraiser of the year, the GoPlaySave fundraiser! A big THANK YOU to all families who supported our school by purchasing or selling one of more of these books. This fundraiser truly determines what we can support and accomplish for our school. Congratulations to Ms. Miles 6th grade homeroom who were the top in selling our GoPlaySave books and have won an Ice Cream party compliments of the GoPlaySave organization!

We have already hosted 3 Teachers’ Luncheons this year. We held our traditional “Welcome Back” luncheon for our teachers during the first week in July before the new school year officially began for our students, and we have hosted two others, too! It is a DRMS tradition for the PTA to host a luncheon on all Early Release Days. We do this not only to show our support for our Teachers & Staff, but also because this allows them to have an opportunity to share some quality time together before they begin their afternoon training. That’s right! It’s an Early Release day for our students, but our Teachers use that time for effective planning and team initiatives. Please consider helping our wonderful Hospitality Committee by donating something delicious to our next Early Release Day luncheon. You can find that SignUpGenius each time we have one about ten days in advance on our PTA Facebook page. Speaking of our PTA Page, please “like” it so that you’ll get all of the news about DRMS in your Facebook Feed! Don’t have a Facebook page? It is a public site, so you can google DRMS PTA FACEBOOK and view the site even if you are not a Facebook user!

We begin to accept Teacher applications for mini-grants in October. This format helps Teachers who are members of the PTA acquire needed items for their classroom with the financial support of our PTA. Teachers can apply once per semester for up to $250 in mini-grant money!

We wrapped up our Fall Book Fair this week and it was a big success! The money we raise goes directly back into our Media Center to purchase new books and other needed items. Again, this event takes the effort of many volunteers, and we thank everyone who came out to help!

Fall Sports games all begin next week at DRMS! We have a strong tradition of great athletics programs! Our Coaches all instill in our students that they are Student/Athletes with an emphasis on being a Student first! Our sister Parent Volunteer Group, the Sports Booster Club is doing a 50/50 raffle this year! How this works is that our athletes will be selling these tickets all year long, and whoever is the winning ticket holder will get 50% of the entire pot! There is a minimum of $1,000 that is in the pot to start! The raffle drawing will be on May 4th. All proceeds go to support our Sports programs. See any Athlete to buy raffle tickets. Details and rules are on the DRMS Athletic site. Also, if you have not joined our Sports Booster Club, please consider doing so! It’s a great way to show your DRMS spirit and get into our games at a discounted price. Forms to join are on the Athletic site, too!

A few other things to Remember… we have begun collecting Box Tops! Please send them in with your student to give to his/her homeroom teacher. We have a contest in effect now where the homeroom that turns in the most Box Tops will win a Breakfast party! It’s the 6th Graders, vs. 7th Grade vs. 8th Grade to see who rules the school! When the weather is still warm outside, we have Kona Ice come the second Friday each month! Kona Ice serves during all lunches and is a cool treat for our kids, and an easy fundraiser for our school!

PTA Members

Posted by Spencer Ziegler on 8/2/2016

A Letter from the PTA President:

Welcome to the 2016-2017 school year! It is great to be back and ready for an exciting new school year. It is my pleasure to serve as the Durant Road Middle School PTA President, and I look forward to working with our Principal, Teachers and many of you Parent Volunteers who make our school a great place for our kids to learn and thrive!

Please meet our 2016-2017 PTA Officers:

Liz Crute : PTA President

Colleen Hodges : VP Fundraising

Brian Kindl: Treasurer

Laurie Kurke: VP Mini-grants

Kathy Parzygnat: Secretary

Carla Turchetti : VP Communications

Our kids are in Middle school at an exciting time! Technology changes and our expanding global perspective happens at such a rapid pace, we are constantly challenged to ensure our children will have the skills necessary to compete and thrive. I realize that our focus as a school and a PTA could not be more in-line right now by working together as educators and parents to help “prepare children to meet the challenges of a rapidly changing world”.

DRMS is such a terrific school and the main reason for this success is due to the support of our wonderful teachers, staff and families. Whether you are stepping up on our PTA and coordinating a program, volunteering as a chaperone on a school trip, or donating funds to support our school, you are helping DRMS continue to be a great school. Your efforts are what make it possible for our teachers to offer outstanding education to our children. As parents and members of our PTA, your involvement is so critical to the collective success of our children and our school. Our PTA supports our school by providing the following throughout the year:

With our families constantly tracking in and out, it is important to us to focus on and improve communication. Our PTA has this space on the DRMS web site where we will update this site with news and important information as needed. For more daily updates, please consider “liking” our PTA page on Facebook!

The PTA is what connects our teachers and parents and makes our school strong. As your student begins a new school year, I will ask you to join us in making a difference in your child’s education. Our goal is to have 600 PTA members this school year! Will you be one of them? Your membership costs just $8.00! Forms will be available at our Open Houses (July 21th for Tracks 1, 2 & 3 and on August 11th for Track 4) and will also go home with your student during their first week of school. Decide today to help the PTA provide support through your time and funds for our teachers and staff so we can prepare our children for the world that they will face as they continue through school and on into adulthood. We are ready to go to work! Here’s to a great school year for all of our kids!